Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in an initial appointment?

Your initial consultation is completed either in-person at The Treatment Room or virtually as a telephone or secure video call and will last up to 1 hour.

During your initial appointment I will carry out a detailed question based assessment, which will start with discussing your current symptoms. From there, I will ask questions about your bladder and bowel health, gynaecological health and past medical history too.

We will discuss and establish your primary concerns and goals you would like to work towards with physiotherapy.

Towards the end of the assessment, I will go through initial advice and if appropriate, discuss the option of a pelvic floor examination with you.

Lastly, we will go through any questions you may have and schedule a follow-up appointment if this is something you would like. Follow-up appointments can be scheduled at The Treatment Room or as a virtual appointment.

Is there a difference between the in-person and virtual initial consultation?

No, there is no difference. The initial consultation is a question based assessment only and is the same whether completed virtually or in-person.

There are lots of reasons as to why an individual may prefer one option or the other and the decision as to whether you attend in-person or virtually is based on what you would prefer.

A popular option is to attend the initial assessment virtually and then attend The Treatment Room clinic for a follow-up appointment, which may include a pelvic floor examination and/or other physiotherapy assessments that have been recommended and can only be completed in-person at The Treatment Room clinic.

What happens in a pelvic floor examination and why would I benefit from this?

A pelvic floor examination is available through a follow-up appointment at the Sherborne Clinic. The examination consists of completing an external and internal examination of the pelvic floor to assess how your pelvic floor is functioning and can take around 10 - 15 minutes to complete.

The examination process, benefits and your suitability will be discussed in good detail at the end of your initial assessment and from there, you can decide if it is something you would like or not.

The pelvic floor examination is not mandatory for ongoing treatment, but as the pelvic floor is an internal set of muscles, the examination is beneficial in providing the most accurate information of how your pelvic floor is functioning and to tailor your treatment more effectively.

Ongoing treatment can absolutely continue if you choose not to have an examination, but please bear in mind that your treatment may be less accurate and require some ongoing questioning to support the best treatment approach for you.

Clinic location, availability and pricing

APPOINTMENT AVAILABILITY

During May, I am transitioning to a new clinic space just outside Sherborne (please see details below).

- In-person appointments will resume from early June, with availability showing from mid-May

- Virtual appointments remain available throughout May

For the most up-to-date availability for both in-person and virtual appointments, please see the Book Appointment page.

CLINIC LOCATION:

In-person appointments take place in a well-equipped clinic room within a private annex.

The clinic is set in a quiet rural location in Adber, just outside Sherborne, and is easily accessible by car via main roads. It is approximately 10 minutes from both Sherborne and Yeovil.

- Dedicated parking available

- Ground floor access with one small step into the clinic room

- Toilet facilities available on site

The clinic address is shown when booking an in-person appointment via the online booking system.

Detailed directions will be provided after booking to help you find the clinic easily.

PRICING:

In-person Appointments:

Initial Consultation (Clinic) - 1 hour: £90.00

Combined Initial Consultation with Pelvic Floor Exam (Clinic) - 1 hr 30 mins: £135.00

Follow-up Appointment (Clinic) - 45 minutes: £70.00

Follow-up Appointment (Clinic) - 30 minutes: £50.00

Rehab Support Session (Clinic) - 20 minutes: £30.00 (Suitable for ongoing support between follow-up appointments. It can be used for exercise technique checks, progression, reassurance, or guidance during your rehabilitation.)

Virtual Appointments:

Virtual appointments are completed online via a secure telerehab video platform or as a telephone call depending on your preference.

Initial Consultation (Virtual) - 1 hour: £80.00

Follow-up Appointment (Virtual) - 45 minutes: £60.00

Follow-up Appointment (Virtual) - 30 minutes: £40.00

Rehab Support Session (Virtual) - 20 minutes: £30.00 (Suitable for ongoing support between follow-up appointments. It can be used for exercise technique checks, progression, reassurance, or guidance during your rehabilitation.)

PLEASE NOTE:

Pelvic floor examinations are only available after an initial consultation has been completed. Pelvic floor examinations can either be scheduled as a follow-up appointment or combined with your initial consultation as an in-person appointment. Further information about the pelvic floor examination can be found above.

Do you offer alternative date appointments?

Yes I do offer alternative date appointments within my virtual clinic and you can arrange a virtual appointment for an alternative day depending on availability.

To request an alternative virtual appointment date, please get in touch by submitting an enquiry form and include your preferred days and times for an appointment.

Do you offer home visits?

Yes, home visit physiotherapy appointments are available within a 30-mile radius of Sherborne, Dorset.

These appointments are arranged individually and are not currently bookable online. If you would like to arrange a home visit appointment, please get in touch via the Contact page to discuss availability and suitability.

A travel fee is added to the standard in-person appointment cost:

Within 10 miles of Sherborne: +£20

10–20 miles from Sherborne: +£30

20–30 miles from Sherborne: +£40

Travel distances are calculated using Google Maps from Sherborne, Dorset.

Home visit appointments may be particularly helpful for women experiencing pelvic health or musculoskeletal concerns who may find clinic attendance difficult due to mobility issues, pain, pregnancy/postnatal recovery, or other health-related reasons.

Payment for home visit appointments is taken in advance via a secure payment link to confirm the appointment booking.

Home visit appointments remain subject to the clinic’s standard cancellation and refund policy. Please see the policy further down the FAQ page.

Home visit appointments are currently available for self-pay appointments and for individuals arranging reimbursement through their insurance provider. They are not currently available for appointments that are directly invoiced to insurance providers.

Do you offer chaperones for appointments?

Steph Lyons Physio is an independent, sole practitioner service, so a chaperone is not routinely present during appointments.

If your assessment involves an intimate examination (such as a pelvic floor assessment), this will always be clearly explained beforehand and your consent will be obtained.

You are very welcome to bring a chaperone of your choice (e.g. partner, friend, or family member) to your appointment.

If you would prefer a formal chaperone (trained healthcare professional), this is not routinely available and may require rearranging your appointment or accessing a service where this is provided.

Your comfort, dignity, and choice are always the priority, and you can decline any examination at any time.

You can view the full Chaperone Policy via the link in the footer of this page.

What are your qualifications?

I obtained my BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree from the University of the West of England and completed my initial pelvic health physiotherapy training within my NHS role as a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist.

Additional Training & Professional Development:

POGP Urinary Dysfunction Course

POGP Pelvic Organ Prolapse Course

Functional Bowel Disorders: Assessment & Management Course

Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Diploma

Level 3 Personal Training Diploma

Female Pelvic Pain Rehabilitation (Ongoing professional development)

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Ongoing professional development)

Professional Memberships:

HCPC Registration - PH136789 (The Health and Care Professions Council)

POGP Affiliate Member (Pelvic, Obstetric & Gynaecological Physiotherapy)

CSP Chartered Member (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy)

Billing, Refunds & Cancellation FAQ's

What is your cancellation and refund policy for physiotherapy appointments?

Please take a moment to review the cancellation and reschedule policy below.

Payment at Time of Booking

Full payment is required at the time of booking for all initial appointments and virtual sessions to confirm your appointment. This secures your session and allows for efficient scheduling.

Some in-person follow-up appointments may be booked at the end of your session while you are in the clinic, with payment due on the day of the appointment. These appointments are subject to the same 24-hour cancellation policy outlined below.

Cancellations & Rescheduling (More than 24 Hours’ Notice)

Appointments can be cancelled or rescheduled without charge if more than 24 hours’ notice is given.

This can be done through the online booking system or by contacting me directly.

If your appointment was prepaid, your payment will either be refunded or transferred to your new appointment.

Cancellations (Less than 24 Hours’ Notice) & No Shows

If you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, or do not attend your appointment, 50% of the session fee will be retained.

For prepaid appointments, 50% of the payment will be refunded.

For in-person follow-up appointments booked in clinic with payment due on the day, a 50% invoice will be issued.

Rescheduling with Less than 24 Hours’ Notice

Requests to reschedule with less than 24 hours’ notice will be considered on a case-by-case basis and only in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Approval is at the discretion of Steph Lyons.

If approved, your payment may be transferred to the new appointment.

Private Health Insurance

If you are using private health insurance, it is your responsibility to ensure your policy covers physiotherapy treatment, including authorisation, session limits, and any excess fees.

The cancellation and payment policies above apply to all appointments regardless of insurance status.

Where appointments are paid at the self-pay rate, refunds are not provided if your insurer does not reimburse the cost of treatment.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

If you would like to ask a question about the cancellation and reschedule policy, please contact Steph at
[email protected].

How do I pay for my appointment?

You can select your preferred appointment day and time via the online booking platform.

Full payment is required as part of the booking process to secure your appointment and is payable via card.  All payments are processed securely via the Cliniko booking system, which uses Stripe as its payment provider.

Please see the cancellation and refund policy above and ensure you are happy with these terms prior to booking and paying for your appointment.

If you are using private health insurance, please refer to the 'Using Private Health Insurance' page for booking and payment guidance.

Do you accept private health insurance?

Yes private health insurance is available with selected providers (Axa Health, Vitality, Aviva, Allianz Partners & WPA).

If your insurer is not listed, you can attend on a self-pay basis and may be able to claim reimbursement. Please always check your policy before booking an appointment.

You can find further information about using private health insurance here.